In a welcome show of support, members of Alberta’s largest union, AUPE, joined the picket line in High River on Thursday, Feb 27, 2025, with AUPE Vice-President Bonnie Gustola leading the way. Gustola expressed her concerns:
“These are very poorly paid workers that are the number one and main supports for kids with special needs. Those kids that need the help and they are the backbone of that support system in every school across the province. And I actually have a vested interest, my granddaughter is autistic, and she is one of those children that is getting that support from these workers. It was nice to see… put names to faces when I walked the line with the members this morning.”